Regional News
By Murray Dobbin on Tuesday May 25 2010
The sorry spectacle of Conservative cabinet ministers flying around the world defending banks from a tax to cover their next, inevitable, meltdown is bad enough. What is perhaps worse is that it is being largely justified by the perpetuation of the myth that Canada did not have to bail out its banks.
Wrong.
We are, according to the IMF, actually the third worst of the G7 countries, behind the US and Britain, in terms of financial stabilization costs.
By Alex Atamanenko on Tuesday May 25 2010
In March, the government released a discussion paper intended as background for its Canada-wide public consultation on pension reform and Canada’s Retirement Income System. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s not surprising. It involved only three town-hall meetings, three by-invitation expert roundtables, and a voluntary on-line component. You could also write in.
By Contributor on Thursday May 20 2010
The Selkirk College Fine Woodworking students will be presenting their 17th annual year end show, Form and Balance, at the end of May--presenting an ideal opportunity to meet talented builders of furniture and experience their unique abilities.
This year’s group of dedicated students is excited to invite everyone to see the work they have created in the last nine months. A well established event in the town of Nelson, the year end show is for anyone in the community and further afield who appreciates fine craftsmanship and innovative design.
By Harvey Oberfeld on Monday May 17 2010
Is it my imagination or are the NHL refs favoring the U.S. teams when they play Canadian teams? This radical thought crossed my mind last year during the playoffs: it just seemed to me that whenever I watched a Canadian team in the NHL playoffs come up against ANY U.S. contender, the refs were tougher on the Canadian teams when calling penalties.
By Alex Atamanenko on Friday May 14 2010
Canada-wide changes proposed by Canada Post that will see local mail rerouted from rural communities to sorting centres in cities have drawn the ire of local NDP Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior).
“This completely defies all logic,” said Atamanenko.
“In this riding, the result will be that some letters will travel over 1,200 kilometres, round trip, for processing in Vancouver on the weekends and back again prior to delivery on Monday.”
By Kyra Hoggan on Friday May 14 2010
Canada Post is standing by a decision to ship local Castlegar mail over 1,200 kilometres (round-trip) for sorting in Vancouver, even if it's only being mailed a couple of blocks. This, despite the condemnation of union representatives and political leaders.
Colleen Frick, director of communications for Canada Post, explained the move won't impact customers or jobs in the area.
“It's not just Castlegar,” she said. “It's quite a few B.C. Interior communities. In those communities, we have twin boxes.”
By Rob Leggett on Wednesday May 12 2010
Leave it to the NDP to introduce a Private Members Bill that I believe will not only be devastating to the Canadian economy but also one that is seemingly based on inconclusive science.
Bill C-311 requires the Canadian federal government to set regulations to attain a midterm target to bring green house gas emissions 25 per cent below 1990 levels and a long term target to bring emissions 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.
By Kyra Hoggan on Wednesday May 12 2010
To oppose Bill C-311, a climate change legislation passed in the House of Commons on May 5, you must first reject the concept of climate change... so let's start there, shall we?
Can you find scientists to debunk the current modern reality that is climate change?
Sure you can!
By Mona Mattei on Thursday May 06 2010
After years of farmers protesting regulations developed in 2006 by the B.C. government that prevented farm gate sales of meat without use of a licenced abattoir, the province has sent the industry into confusion with the introduction of two new licences. Local producers are left feeling that they have been chasing their own tails for the last four years, spending time and money trying to build facilities that would provide local meat inspection. Now, it seems that the province is opening up the regulations to allow livestock producers to slaughter their animals again.
By Kyra Hoggan on Thursday May 06 2010
When I saw B.C. was taking a hard-line stance against impaired driving, I wanted to cheer ...I was delighted.
Turns out, I should've reserved judgment until I had more of the facts.
I'm all for throwing the book at recidivistic drunk drivers – in fact, I think it should've been done years ago. Why wait until someone dies – why not punish these folks before their actions result in vehicular manslaughter? It's a no-brainer, right?
Maybe so, but that's not what these new laws are about, now is it?
